COROT spacecraft   COROT satellite     The COROT spacecraft consists of a platform (Proteus) already used by CNES for low-Earth-orbiting satellites, upon which the telescope and two cameras for scientific investigations are mounted.     COROT in a nutshell Launch mass 630 kilograms Dimensions 4.2 metres high 9 metres wide (with deployed solar arrays) Power 530 Watts Telemetry 1.5 Gbit per day Mass memory capacity 2 Gbit Pointing accuracy 0.5 arcseconds Orbit Earth polar circular orbit 90º degrees inclination 896 kilometres altitude Mission duration 3 years nominal Extended until 31 March 2013 Prime Contractor Alcatel Alenia Space Ground stations Kiruna (S), Aussaguel (F), Hartebeesthoek (South Africa), Kourou (French Guyana), with mission-specific ground stations in Alcantara (Brazil) and Vienna (A).       COROT satellite           Last update: 28 October 2009 More about...  •  COROT overview (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120372_index_0_m.html)  •  COROT factsheet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMO6C1A6BD_index_0.html) Related articles  •  How to find an extrasolar planet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMYZF9YFDD_index_0.html)  •  How many planets are outside our Solar System? (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMZVI5V9ED_index_0.html)  •  How do waterworlds form? (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/COROT/SEMYM6XO4HD_0.html)  •  Searching for planets with life (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/COROT/SEMBVPWLDMD_0.html) Related links  •  COROT at CNES (http://www.cnes.fr/corot_en/)  •  Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia (http://www.exoplanet.eu/)  •  Hubble's exoplanets search (http://www.spacetelescope.org/science/index.html)